Lethbridge – For the first time in the 2011-12 season, the women’s hockey team (10-5-1 CW, 15-8-1 overall) failed to pick up a win during a weekend series and the task this weekend doesn’t get any easier in a home-and-home series with the CIS #3 Calgary Dinos (10-4-0 CW).
 
With only five weeks remaining in the conference schedule, every series and every point is going to be important. Only four points separate first from fifth, and with only four playoff spot available, a streak by any of the five teams will result in home ice advantage or a slump could result in missing a post season spot all together.
 
The ‘Horns and Dinos split a home-and-home series earlier in the season, with both teams winning on their home ice, the ‘Horns shutout the Dinos 1-0, before losing 3-2 the following night in Calgary.
The weekend set opens in Calgary, with the back half of the home-and-home going Saturday night at Nicholas Sheran Arena. Puck drops both nights at 7:00pm. Saturday night’s game will also be webcast on www.canadawest.tv , home of all Canada West webcasts.
 
Horns Need a Rebound
After losing the opening game of last weekend’s series versus Saskatchewan Huskies, the ‘Horns rallied from three goals down in the third period to force overtime and despite falling in overtime they did earn a valuable point.
 
The second best team defensively in the Conference, the ‘Horns have only surrendered 30 goals in 16 games, but are also the lowest scoring team among the five teams that are still in post-season contention. The ‘Horns are averaging 2.5 goals for through 16 games.
 
Despite being charged with both losses last weekend in Saskatoon, Crystal Patterson is still among the league leaders in every category. Patterson still leads the league in minutes played and shutouts, while she slipped to fourth in goals-against-average at 1.73 and second in save percentage at 0.939.
 
Senior forward Shelby Ballendine leads the ‘Horns offensively with 6 goals and 8 assists, while Sadie Lenstra and Kirsten Reeves are the top two rookie scorers. Lenstra has 8 goals to go along with 4 assists and Reeves has scored 7 times and added 4 assists.
 
Dinos looking to make a move
Holding two games in hand on the teams above them in the conference, the Calgary Dinos are within striking distance of the top spot and currently trail the ‘Horns by a single point for third place and are four points behind the Huskies for top spot.
 
While the Dinos are the stingiest team in the conference, allowing only 26 goals in 14 games, they are also the most potent offensively as well. The Dinos have scored 50 goals and the only team that has scored more goals is the Huskies with 51, but the Huskies have played two more games. Elana Lovell and Russia National team member Iya Gavrilova lead the Dinos with 11 goals apiece and 17 and 18 points respectively. While only playing in half of her team’s games thus far Hailey Wickenheiser has 6 goals and 7 assists.
 
Amanda Tapp has carried the bulk of the load in the Dinos’ crease this season and has the third best goals-against-average in the conference at 1.70 and is second in wins with 9.